THIS IS YOUR FREESTYLE BLAST #17

In this issue of The Blast, we look into a surely bright future for Freestyle Music, while figuring out a way to prepare our next generation to take it over.

May 15, 2023

What’s up Blastards and Blastets, and welcome to another issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter. This year has been an incredible one so far for our genre, and even more so for my artists in particular, and there are so many of you I’d like to thank for that.

This month we shoot on over to Boston, Massachusetts where The Cover Girls performed for a very unique event called The Aquarius Reunion, an event that I simply fell in love with, and for reasons we’ll get into in a minute.

Also, another topic that seemed to fit in perfectly with the one I just mentioned, and a concern that I’ve been having for quite some time, is how do we pass the Freestyle torch? This is an important topic that is not be ignored.

As you make your way through this month’s Newsletter, you’ll notice a few slight changes and updates, such as the Freestyle Blast Flash 3 where I highlight three Freestyle releases every month. Though I am in search of new releases, I will also feature some great ones that I might’ve missed. In addition to the Blast Flash 3 is a poll, where you the reader can vote in your personal favorite, and get this. The one with the most votes will be added again the following month.

Oh, and if you think you know your Freestyle, well then make sure you scroll to the very end and see if you can solve the new Lyric Blast. It’s not easy, so true Freestyle Freaks only need attempt.

Last but not least, The Freestyle Blast Newsletter now has its own Facebook group. You’ll find the links below so make sure you join. The purpose of this group is to have a place for our readers to share ideas, information, and topics that we might want to feature in an upcoming issues.

It’s all going down right here, so if you’re ready… Then let’s go!

FREESTYLE, MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION

What’s gonna happen when we die?

We have assets and insurance to take care of our loved ones, but what about taking care of that which has taken care of many of us for so many years? Yeah, I’m talking about Freestyle.

I’m not an artist, and any influence I might have on this genre is still pretty light, but I have to admit, though I know it isn’t true, sometimes I feel as though I am the only one who talks about the future of this genre.

I remember hearing one of our senior Freestyle execs saying that once he’s gone, he doesn’t give a shit what happens to Freestyle. Damn, just thinking back on that, sort of stabs me in the gut.

I’ve wanted to be a part of the music industry all my life, and back in the day when things were beginning to bubble for me, it was actually taken away.

I was fortunate to get it back and made a vow to dedicate my life to it, and I think I’ve pretty much done that.

I think I’m good at what I do and know this business pretty well, and though I’ve had many opportunities to apply my skillset in genres that would probably have proved much more lucrative and relevant, I just couldn’t pull myself away from Freestyle.

Coming out of prison feeling as though I had blown my only opportunity in the music business, and now with two felonies hanging over my head, and a reputation that would take time to repair, the question that echoed continuously in my head, was what the f*ck am I gonna do now?

Long story short, things eventually worked out, my dream continues now over thirty years later, and like any sensible person heading toward those golden years, those who we will eventually leave behind are a constant thought, and the last thing any of us ever want is to become a burden.

But what about this genre, Freestyle, the thing that had done so much for me and my family over the years? Could I just forget about it, write it off as something I simply did, rather than something I was? Sorry… I can’t!

So the question is this. What can any of us do to at the very least help sustain the genre for future generations to enjoy and maybe even benefit from? And though any of our answers may not guarantee anything, it would at the very least be a perfect place to start, and with that said, my answer would simply be… mentoring!

But wait, I’m not talking about just giving advice here and there to those who inquire, but rather mentoring with intent, and even more importantly, mentoring without any strings attached.

The minute we take on a protege with the intention of benefiting or profiting in any way is the minute that entire idea becomes useless.

If we focus on benefiting in any way, what happens here is, our patience is tried and we don’t give the time needed.

If you’re a part of the Freestyle community in any way, you can contribute to the future of this genre. Even as a fan, you can pitch in by sharing music, videos, and maybe a little history with those who have no idea we even exist. Bring your kids and maybe a couple of their friends to one of the many all-age, Freestyle events.

There’s no telling what might inspire someone to pursue a career in Freestyle, or at the very least, become a fan.

I’ve been speaking about this for many years, in fact, I made this video a while back that I think you might enjoy, so check it out, and please, I’ll love to know your thoughts and of course, any ideas that any of you may have would be incredibly helpful. To the the Future of Freestyle! 🥂

DON’T STOP THE ROCK

This month, I got a chance to look into the crystal ball of what Freestyle might look like in the very near future.

It was at a semi-private event that The Cover Girls headlined called The Aquarius Reunion. Though we stayed in Boston, the event targeted the Quincy / Dorchester area of Massachusetts.

So, the story goes that this event is named after a very popular nightclub that was located in the Quincy Bay Inn, in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The club enjoyed a successful ten-year run from the late 70s into the 80s. It was a total dance club where DJs like James Duffey played all the popular music of that time, from Tavares to Prince, and of course… The Cover Girls!

Thursdays and Sundays were their hottest nights, where people jam-packed the club’s famous sunken dancefloor, and stayed there till the last record played.

In 2016, Patrick McDonough started the annual Aquarius Reunion, where old friends and Aquarius club alumni can come together, to be transported back to their twenties.

“It’s the place where everyone knows each other. It’s not a gimmick outfit night, and guest dress to impress. I can also attest that many became couples at these events, as well as several marriages!” - Patrick McDonough

Now I got there early with The Cover Girls for soundcheck, and while the girls got ready for their performance in a few hours, I hung out in the event space with my good buddy and agent, David Oriola while they set up.

The night’s performance was held at a place called The Florian Hall, an event center used by the Boston Fire Department to raise money for important causes.

The place was pretty big, with huge round reserved tables scattered throughout.

Like every event, the butterflies in my stomach have me worried about the attendance, or lack of, as no act ever wants to perform to an empty house, but when 7:30 PM rolled in, so did the first batch of partiers, ready to do just that… Party!

The difference with this crowd compared to what we’re used to, is, that this crowd seemed to be a bit older, and of course they are! The Aquarius Nightclub began in the 1970s, the Disco era, and at first, that’s exactly where this crowd seemed to be taking me until another batch poured in, this one just a bit younger.

From then on, that door didn’t close for over an hour as I watched The Florian Hall pack to the gills. And why did any of them even reserve tables? Beats me, because the minute these folks step into the hall, they stayed on the dance floor practically all night long.

And so it was, 9:30 PM… Showtime! My butterflies had now morphed into bats as I lead my girls to the side of a stage that sat barely two feet above the dance floor, and when normally with our younger crowds who are usually too cool for school, this crowd made their way up front and center, a mere arm’s length to one of Freestyle’s most legendary girl groups.

Hit after hit, not only did The Cover Girls perform, but with them every lyric of every song the crowd sang along.

You know, many look at what we do as a pretty glamorous job, and yes, it is, in a way. But along with that are the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle that many don’t see. Booking the shows, deciding on the outfits, producing show tapes, the 4:00 am trips to already crowded airports, cramped turbulent flights, hotel rooms, on-the-road diets, soundchecks, and then finally… showtime, where we’re never too sure of what might come.

But once it’s all over, and the artists stand on stage, looking out at all those beautiful people who have been loving them now for most of their lives, you just can’t help yourself… you wanna do it again!

And for those who couldn’t make it to The Aquarius Reunion on April 29th, 2023, here’s a little clip of The Cover Girls, featuring Margo, Michelle, and of course the original lead singer herself, Angel OCG, as they perform their biggest hit… Hope you enjoy it!